Midweek Roundup

We’ll begin with news from DWAS, who announce that issue 333 of Celestial Toyroom is in the post. Following on from the success of their A5 experiment in issue 332 (with cover art provided by Kasterborous’ own Anthony Dry), issue 333 will be the last A4 format edition, as feedback for issue 332 was hugely positive.

You can find out more about the next issue by visiting the DWAS website.

Rose actress Billie Piper has been offering advice to new Doctor David Tennant on how to conduct relationships with the Press watching, according to The Star, reports ,a href=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds27396.html target=”_blank”>Digital Spy. Whatever. I only print this sort of trash so you lot don’t email me about it…

Anthony Head is raisng money for the Royal United Hospital Bath’s Forever Friends Appeal, of which he is Vice President, reports SFX.co.uk. Signed programmes from the Jamie Cullum “Live on the Rec” concert of which he was MC are available for Â£25, and can be ordered from Head’s website.

The Sunday Mail reported that “World’s worst actor” Ronald Villiers will be appearing in a Dalek sketch:

Chewin’ The Fat’s Ford Kiernan swore rotten Ronald would never be allowed to tarnish his top Christmas movies.

The wannabe thespian returns to the small screen in a Hogmanay special when he faces down a Dalek in a hilarious Dr Who sketch.

And finally, Ekklesia, the online theological think-tank, have previewed ,The Christmas Invasion – but then who hasn’t?

Under the title “Peacenik Doctor Who to ruin Blair’s Christmas”, they claim that the adventure:

“…takes a less-than-coded swipe at the US and British-led war Iraq. Penelope Wilton plays a newly-elected British prime minister having her Yuletide fun ruined by aliens intent on taking over Planet Earth.”

They have however also spoken to writer Mark Clapham (co-author of “Who’s Next?”):

“The Doctor has usually been a character who advocates peaceful means before violent solutions. Heâ€™s not a particularly dedicated pacifist though – he often finds himself having to apply violent solutions sooner or later.”

…as well as his “Who’s Next?” co-author Jim Smith:

There are many stories which are definitely anti-war. Not a particular war – just war itself. â€˜The Crusadeâ€™ (1965) is specifically about the futility of religious warfare and is even set in Basra. While itâ€™s adventure fiction and thus has fighting in it, the whole show is deeply suspicious of politicians, soldiers, military means, military objectives, and so on.”

It’s very reassuring to report on Doctor Who being so thought-provoking on the day we learn that DT is asking BP advice on dating in the public eye…

A long-term Doctor Who fan, Christian grew up watching the show and has early memories of the Graham Williams era. His favourite stories are Inferno, The Seeds of Doom and Human Nature (although The Empty Child, Blink and Utopia all come close). When he’s not bossing around the news team, Christian is a freelance writer specialising in mobile technology and domestic computing, and enjoys classic rock, cooking and spending time in the countryside with his wife and young children. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.